Wireless laser system for power transmission with gain medium control based on beam power or shape

ABSTRACT

An optical power beam transmission system, with a directional light transmitter and receiver. The transmitter contains an amplifying laser medium, and this together with a retroreflector in the receiver, forms a laser resonator. When lasing sets in, the receiver can extract optical power through an output coupler and convert it to electrical power. The gain medium may be a disc having a thickness substantially smaller than its lateral dimensions. The laser resonator is operated as a stable resonator to ensure safe operation. This is achieved by use of an adaptive optical element, for reducing the diameter of the energy beam impinging on the gain medium, thereby increasing the overlap between the energy beam and the gain medium. As the transmitter-receiver distance is changed, such as by movement of the receiver, the adaptive optical element focal length changes to ensure that the cavity remains within its stability zone.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/095,373, filed Apr. 11, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,653,949, issued May16, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/016,151, filed Sep. 2, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,312,660, issued Apr.12, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/811,382, filed Jul. 1, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,525,097, issued Sep.3, 2013, which is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371of PCT International Application No. PCT/IL2009/000010, which has aninternational filing date of Jan. 4, 2009, and which claims prioritybenefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/006,255, filedJan. 3, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of the wireless transmissionof power to a remote device over free space, especially by means of alaser-like system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years mobile devices have found widespread popular use. Inmany cases, these devices use a battery to provide electric power; inother cases they draw their power from another device such as a computervia an electrical cable, through a USB port for example. One of the mostcommon drawbacks of such devices is the need for recharging the battery,in the case of a rechargeable battery, or replacement of the battery inthe case of a non-rechargeable battery, or the inconvenience ofrequiring a cable connection. It would be desirable if such devices wereable to receive their power, or at least part of it, wirelessly from aremote source, thus reducing the need for recharging cycles or change ofbatteries, while not limiting the device to be bound to a fixed locationlimited by a cable connection to a power source.

In published International Patent Application No. WO/2007/036937,entitled “Directional Light Transmitter and Receiver”, to one of theinventors in the present application, and incorporated herewithin byreference in its entirety, there is described a directional lighttransmitter and receiver that may be used to transmit power to such amobile device. A transmitter, fixed for example at the ceiling of aroom, contains an amplifying laser medium, and this together with aretroreflector in the receiver, forms a laser resonator. When lasingsets in, the receiver can extract some optical power through an outputcoupler and convert it to electrical power such as in a photovoltaiccell. The resonator described in WO/2007/036937 may be either a ringcavity or a regular cavity formed between the 6 mirrors of the tworetroreflectors.

In order to ensure safe operation of the apparatus described inWO/2007/036937, a system is needed to ensure that the amounts of powerthat can be emitted outside the confines of the laser resonator in amanner that may pose risk to the neighboring environment, such as topeople, animals or equipment, or to components of the system itself, isminimal and complies with the safety limitations in operation to preventsuch a danger.

In a system such as the one described in WO/2007/036937, power isemitted to the destination device through the output coupler on thereceiver. To ensure safe operation, the system must be designed andconstructed in such a way that minimal power is dissipated by the systemother than to the power destination. This is especially true for opticalpower, as it poses a bigger risk to persons and the environment thanthermal loss, which is usually locally confined. The system described inWO/2007/036937 relies on the cessation of lasing in the event that anobstruction diverts power from the resonator. However, although suchcessation of lasing will generally take place, the need for a high levelof safety necessitates more comprehensive safety means to preventleakage of power in unintended directions. However, the beam may bepartially blocked by a transparent object, such as a window, causing apart of the power to be reflected outside the beam's path, but withoutstopping the lasing. Such a beam may pose a risk to persons or objectsin its vicinity, and will also reduce the overall efficiency oftransmission, such that there is a need to detect such an occurrence.

In published U.S. patent application number US 2008/0130124 there aredescribed safety methods for preventing unintentional dispersion of alaser beam transmitted from a self-contained laser transmitter to areceiver. In published U.S. patent application number US 2008/0084596,there are described motorized mirror assemblies for use with such alaser beam transmission system. Other systems include a subsidiary beamsent from the receiver to the transmitter to verify that the line ofsight between transmitter and receiver is not broken by an intrudingobject.

Other prior art patents of relevance to the techniques used in thisfield of interest include U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,088 for “Laser amplifyingsystem” to A. Giesen, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,051 for“Optically-stabilized plano-plano optical resonators” to J. J. Zayhowski

The disclosures of each of the publications mentioned in this sectionand in other sections of the specification, are hereby incorporated byreference, each in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure describes new optical power beam transmissionsystems, with a directional light transmitter and receiver. Thetransmitter contains a retroreflector with an amplifying laser medium,and this together with a retroreflector in the receiver, forms a laserresonator. When lasing sets in, the receiver can extract some opticalpower through an output coupler and convert it to electrical power, suchas in a photovoltaic cell. The resonator may be either a ring cavity ora linear cavity formed between the 6 mirrors of the two retroreflectors.The systems differ from those described in the prior art mainly in theuse of an adaptive optical element designed to ensure that the laseroperates as a stable resonator, as well as configuring the gain mediumso that the transmitter can operate over a large field of view.

The transmitter and receiver should mutually operate safely and withsufficient efficiency that they can provide effective power for mobileelectronic devices within their area of reach, regardless of theposition and orientation of those devices. The safety and efficiencyeffects are related, since both are ultimately dependent on theeffectiveness with which power dissipation in directions other than inthe intended beam, is controlled.

Power can be dissipated from the system in a number of ways other thanas intended through the output coupler:

(a) When the resonator is operating outside of its stability zone, as anunstable resonator, the nature of the modes generated are such thatpower may be dissipated in a way that limits the capability of thesystem to detect, by measuring power and or beam shape, if such a beamhas become partially blocked. Thus, if a person were to position himselfinadvertently in the line of sight of the small “spill-over” power ofthe unstable resonator mode, i.e. that part of the power not reflectedback into the resonator, then not only may this spill-over power beunsafe, but its blocking by the person would have no effect on the laserpower or the mode shape, and could not thus be detected by monitoringthe laser power or mode. This makes it difficult to stop the radiationin time to prevent potential damage to the surroundings. This isillustrated schematically in FIG. 1A which shows such an unstableresonator with a bystander's eye 10 receiving part of the spill-overpower 11 from the resonator. On the other hand, when operating as astable resonator within the stability zone of the resonator, anyblocking of the beam, however slight, will instantly cause a significantalteration in the beam's power, or in the beam's mode shape, or in both,making it simple to detect such a blocking. It is therefore important tooperate the laser resonator of the system within its stability zone.Furthermore, any bystander 10 outside of the resonator limits will notbe subjected to any of the beam's radiation, as shown in FIG. 1B.(b) The beam may be partially blocked by a transparent object, such as awindow, causing some of the power to be diverted outside the beam'spath. Mechanisms will be described to detect if such a portion of thebeam is emitted in a different direction to that intended.(c) If the beam intensity at any point exceeds the damage threshold ofthe components at that point, unpredictable behavior and even failure ofthis component may happen and power may leak out. This is especiallyimportant for the photovoltaic cell, as it handles changing amounts ofoptical power. The system should be designed to prevent such damage.(d) The system should ensure that lasing cannot be directed at areflective object, such as a bathroom mirror, which could behave like alaser resonator mirror. The system must be constructed that lasing isalways directed towards a safe receiver capable of handling the directedlevel of power, and that none of this power is dissipated towardsimprovised or unintended receivers such as mirrors.(e) In cases where a significant part of the laser gain volume is notused for lasing towards the receiver, a parasitic laser may be createdwith an external object. For example, if lasing towards the receiver isdone through only 20% of the gain volume, a mirror with a suitable focallength, such as a bathroom mirror, positioned at the correct positionand direction, could utilize any of the remaining non-pumped parts ofthe laser gain medium, and generate lasing between that part and theexternal mirror. This lasing would create a power leak in the systemthat may significantly reduce power transmission efficiency, and wouldprobably be unsafe.

The various exemplary systems described in the present disclosureattempt to overcome the above described problems, either by preventingsuch conditions from arising, or, if unsuccessful in doing so, detectingthe condition when it arises and stopping the lasing automaticallybefore harmful amounts of laser radiation are emitted. To ensure theserequirements, the following conditions must be fulfilled:

(a) The system must always maintain conditions, especially focal lengthsand direction of optical components that force the system to operatewithin the stability zone of the resonator, i.e. as a stable resonator.These conditions must be automatically maintained by the system whilethe receiver to transmitter distance and orientation is changing, suchas occurs as the receiver moves around the area of coverage of thesystem.(b) During operation, the system must be designed in such a way toensure that lasing would be stopped if an object, transparent, ornon-transparent, blocks part, or all of the beam's path. One method todetect such a blocking object is to monitor the beam's power and shapecontinuously. Another method is to use a detector designed for thispurpose. One such detector is described below, an alternative one may bea video camera for monitoring the environment. If such a blocking objectis detected, the system must stop lasing before harmful amounts of laserradiation are emitted. Some safety regulations require that there be twoindependent mechanisms for stopping the lasing if an unsafe situationarises, such as a person intercepting the beam.(c) The system must be designed in such a way that optical power cannotexceed the damage threshold of any of the components in the system. Thephotovoltaic cell in particular may experience a wide range ofintensities and needs to be protected. A radiation diffusing assemblymay be used to achieve this protection.(d) (i) Since the power density in this system changes between extremes,from a very small focal point to a very large one (especially on thereceiver side), more care needs to be taken to address this situationthan in a regular cavity laser.

-   -   (ii) From an optical point of view, the beam exits the output        coupler in an unknown direction, depending on the position of        the receiver relative to the transmitter, and with a rather        small beam radius. This makes it difficult to use conventional        optics in the beam path, as its position is unknown. On the        other hand, without additional cooling, which would be        inconvenient and an additional expense, photovoltaic cells are        today still incapable of handling the power densities generated,        which could reach 1 W on a surface area of 1 mm². Therefore,        some sort of beam diffuser must be used to capture the output        beam.        (e) During lasing, the system must verify at all time that the        receiver receives essentially all of the power, and not just        part of it, which may indicate that other parts may be lasing        towards unwanted objects. This can be achieved by means of a        monitor and control system which follows the power output, and        looks for unnatural changes in its level, for instance, whether        any decrease in power is typical of a natural decay of the laser        power or the detector sensitivity, or is due to an extraneous        interruption of lasing.        (f) A startup procedure is essential, which verifies the        receiver is equipped to handle the transmitted power is        necessary, this procedure would also be used to verify that no        extraneous reflective objects such as mirrors cause any lasing.        (g) The system configuration, especially the gain medium, should        have a geometry and structure to ensure good beam overlap with        the gain medium for a wide field of view, so that no portion of        the gain medium volume may contribute to lasing in a different        direction. An overlap of at least 50% is desirable.

The resonator is maintained in a condition of stability by the use of anautomatic focusing element, which compensates for the change inresonator configuration, and hence in the mode properties, as theresonator increases and decreases in size with motion of the receiver.This can be achieved by using an adaptive optical element, which changesits focal length as a result of a change in an input parameter relatedto the beam power or mode, either or both of which change with change inresonator length. One exemplary method of implementing this is by theuse of a thermal lens, configured to operate as an automatic focusingelement. The system relies on the natural expansion of the intra-cavitylaser beam as the distance from the beam waist is increased. Thus, anychange in distance of the receiver from the transmitter is reflected ina change of the spot size on the thermal lens. This in turn results in achange of the focal length of the thermal lens, and correct design ofthe thermal lens can enable it to maintain the resonator in a stableconfiguration in spite of such changes in the transmitter-receiverdistance or orientation. Furthermore, should the focal length of thethermal lens become too short to maintain the optimal focal point,additional modes beside the basic TEM₀₀ mode may evolve, increasing theM² parameter of the beam, resulting in an increased spot on the thermallens. Such an increase in the spot size on the thermal lens in turnresults in an increase in the focal length, back towards its optimallength. Such a thermal lens element should be designed to have a thinprofile, compared to the expected beam radius, since a thin element issignificantly less affected by changes in the direction of the beam, asthe decrease in the power density on the element is compensated for byan increase in optical path length.

The “lens” may be in the form of an additive layer to a mirror, i.e., areflecting element rather than a real lens. Such an automatic mirror canalso be electronically or otherwise controlled, (e.g. a deformablemirror or liquid crystal element, controlled by an electronic system) insuch case feedback for controlling such a deformable mirror or liquidcrystalline element may be taken from the total power transmitted, orfrom measuring the beam shape or power directly or indirectly, such asby measuring the temperature in different parts of the element. Forfixed position receivers, an optical element with a lesser number ofdegree of freedom may possibly be used.

Stability of the cavity is defined, inter alia, by the focal length ofthe cavity mirrors. In order to ensure stable operation, the point ofconvergence of the rays transmitted through the thermal lens must bebeyond the active mirror gain material. If a lens or another thermallens exists close to the gain medium, a suitable correction needs to beapplied. However, it is preferable if the beam diameter on the gainmedium is not too large compared to the size of the gain medium, as anyportion of the beam outside the gain medium will cause a loss of energyand thus decrease the total efficiency of the system.

Furthermore, the amplifying, laser-active part should be constructed inthe form of a thin disc, so that its utilization becomes independent ofthe orientation of the receiver relative to the transmitter. Thisfulfils the requirement of item (g) above. The term “thin disc” in thiscontext refers to the ratio of the thickness of the gain medium to itslateral dimension or dimensions, and not necessarily to the shape of it.Although a circular disc is most commonly used, the disk may be of othershapes, such as a rectangle or an oval or a triangle. Other terms usedin the literature to describe thin gain media, which may be suitable forthis application, include, the terms active mirror, semiconductor thindisc, VECSEL and possibly other terms as well, and all are intended tobe covered by the generic term “thin disc” used herein.

When turning on the transmitter, assuming a receiver within range andproperly oriented, there is initially no focusing power in the form ofan active thermal lens, or any other type of adaptive optical element,which could allow for resonator modes of a reasonable radius, so thatlaser operation cannot start. For start-up, a thermal lens needs to becreated. This can be conveniently performed using a controlled electricor optical heater built into, or in close proximity to, the thermal lensmirror. Such a lens can also be initiated by placing a liquid crystalelement or a deformable mirror in proximity to the thermal lens. Thestart-up procedure can be as follows:

(i) Increase the heater power until lasing starts, i.e., until powergeneration on the photovoltaic cell is detected. If lasing is notachieved even with the highest heater power, the controller may tryagain after a certain time intervals or with a different heatingprofile, such as more centered heating, and if unsuccessful then, maypossibly “give up” after a while. The combined power of heater and laserbeam may be too high for keeping the resonator stable. The laser powerwill then probably fluctuate with a relatively small mean value.(ii) Then ramp down the heater power slowly. The laser power should thengradually increase, more and more taking over the task to keep thethermal lens at its desired optical power.

If lasing stops for any reason, the device may try at regular intervalsto reestablish operation by repeating the start-up procedure.

There is thus provided in accordance with an exemplary implementation ofthe presently claimed invention, a free-space lasing system forgenerating a laser beam, the system comprising:

(i) a power transmitting unit comprising a first retroreflector, andhaving an angular field of view,

(ii) at least one power receiver unit comprising a secondretroreflector, and remotely located relative to the power transmittingunit,

(iii) a gain medium disposed between the first and secondretroreflectors, in proximity to the first retroreflector of the powertransmitting unit, and

(iv) an element for extracting energy from the beam,

wherein the gain medium has a geometric form such that the lasing ismaintained even when the beam is aligned over essentially the entirefield of view.

In such a system, the field of view may be any of at least ±5 degrees,at least ±15 degrees or at least ±30 degrees. The gain medium may have athickness between the surfaces between which the beam traversessubstantially smaller than its lateral dimensions, and it may also havean anti-reflection coating on at least one of its surfaces, adapted toreduce reflection from the at least one surface, such that the lasing ismaintained even when the beam is aligned over essentially the entirefield of view. The thickness of the gain medium may further besubstantially smaller than its lateral dimension, such that the gainprofile of the gain medium is substantially independent of the beamalignment over essentially the entire field of view.

Such a system may further include at least one adaptive optical elementfor modifying the properties of the lasing system such that stableresonator modes are obtained. The at least one adaptive optical elementmay be such as to reduce the diameter of the laser beam impinging on thegain medium, thereby increasing the overlap between the laser beam andthe gain medium. In any of the above systems, at least one of theadaptive optical element and the gain medium should have sufficientlylow birefringence that the generation of spurious birefracted beams issignificantly reduced.

Additionally, the adaptive optical element may comprise either a thermallens, or a lens or a mirror, mechanically deformable according to anapplied control signal, or a pixelated liquid crystal array disposedsuch that the phase shift of light passing through a region of theelement can be changed in accordance with a control signal applied to atleast one pixel adjacent the region. In the case of the latter twoimplementations, the applied control signal may be related to acharacteristic of the laser beam of the lasing system.

In the case of a thermal lens, it may be generated by a partiallyabsorbing layer on the surface of the adaptive optical element.Furthermore, the thermal lens may be made of a material which ispartially absorbing in order to absorb enough energy to generate thethermal lens. Yet other exemplary implementations may involve a thermallens comprising a material having a value of dn/dT/x such as to reducethe optical power required to create the focusing power of the thermallens, where do/dT is the temperature differential of the refractiveindex of the material, and κ is the thermal conductivity of thematerial. In such a case, the material may advantageously have a valueof dn/dT/κ of at least 0.00001 m·⁻¹ Kg⁻¹ sec³. Furthermore, the thermallens may comprise a heating element for generating the thermal profilerequired to create it.

Furthermore, in the above-described systems, the optical form of theadaptive optical element may determined by feedback from acharacteristic of the beam. In this case, the characteristic may bederived from the level of the output power of the laser beam.

Additionally, in such a free-space lasing system with an adaptiveoptical element, the overlap may be maximized by adjusting the focusingpower of the adaptive optical element, such that the laser beam does notexperience significant additional angular shift as a result of thefocusing power adjustment. Such an adaptive optical element may belocated adjacent to either the first or the second retroreflector.

In any of the above-described systems, the gain medium may be adapted toemit a laser beam essentially parallel to a laser beam incident upon it.Additionally, the optical thickness profile across the width of the gainmedium when the laser beam is traversing it may be such that the laserbeam emerges from the gain medium in a direction essentially parallel tothe direction in which the laser beam impinges on the gain medium. Inthe latter case, the optical thickness profile across the width of thegain medium may be controlled by means of a temperature profilegenerated across the width. Also, the system may further comprise anadditional optical element adapted to compensate for the change in theoptical thickness profile of the gain medium arising from the lasing.

Other exemplary implementations can involve a free-space lasing systemas described above, further comprising an optical diffusing elementadjacent to the element for extracting energy, such that the extractedenergy is spatially dispersed before impingement on a photoelectricdevice used for converting the extracted energy.

Further implementations involve a system wherein the lateral dimensionof the gain medium is selected such that the Rayleigh length of thelaser beam is at least a significant fraction of the distance betweenthe transmitting unit and the receiver unit. The significant fractioncould be at least 2%, and the lateral dimension of the gain medium maybe sufficiently small that the power threshold for lasing is no morethan an order of magnitude larger than the power of the transmittedbeam.

Other implementations may further involve a free space lasing system asdescribed above, wherein the gain medium optical thickness for differentpolarizations of the laser beam is substantially small compared to thediameter of the gain medium, so that transmitted beams of differentpolarizations substantially overlap. The gain medium may be made of amaterial having low birefringence. Additionally, the gain medium opticalthickness for different polarizations may be such that the transmittedbeams overlap is greater then 50%

Any of the above described systems may further comprise an opticaldetector disposed such that it detects objects within the beam path. Theoptical detector should be capable of detecting opaque and transparentobjects, and such objects are detected optically by monitoring forchanges in any one of the beam power and the transmission of a probebeam of light between the transmitting unit and the receiver unit.Alternatively, the objects are detected by monitoring the transmissionof the probe beam, where a signal is transmitted from the transmitterand is reflected back to the transmitter by the receiver, or vice versa.In any of such implementations, the objects may be detected bytransmission of light of a probe beam having at least one wavelengthselected to be absorbed by common transparent materials such as glassesand plastics. The wavelength may be in either the UV or IR regions.

Another example implementation can involve a wireless power receiver forreceiving a beam of optical power, the receiver comprising:

(i) a retro reflector for reflecting a major part of the beam,

(ii) an adaptive optical element inserted in the path of the beam,adapted to focus the beam, and

(iii) a light coupler capable of extracting optical power from the beam,

wherein the receiver is adapted to receive power wirelessly from aremote transmitter unit. In such a receiver, the adaptive opticalelement may be adapted to image the retroreflected beam at a plane atleast as far as the remote transmitter unit. In either of these cases,the remote transmitter unit should comprise a second retroreflector,such that the transmitter and the receiver units constitute a resonator,and the adaptive optical element is adapted to maintain the resonatorwithin its stability limit.

The adaptive optical element may includes a thermal lens, or a lensmechanically deformable according to an applied control signal, or apixelated liquid crystal array disposed such that the phase shift oflight passing through a region of the element can be changed inaccordance with a control signal applied to at least one pixel adjacentthe region.

In such receivers, the adaptive optical element may have a sufficientlylarge lateral dimension that the retroreflected beam does not extendbeyond the lateral dimension for a wide range of angles of incidence ofthe beam.

The remote transmitter unit may further comprise a gain medium, the gainmedium having a lateral dimension such that the Rayleigh length of thebeam of optical power is at least a significant fraction of the distancebetween the transmitter unit and the receiver. That significant fractionmay be at least 2%. Furthermore, the lateral dimension of the gainmedium may be sufficiently small that the power threshold for lasing isno more than essentially an order of magnitude larger than the beampower.

Any of these exemplary receivers may further comprise an energyconverter for converting part of the beam into electrical power.Additionally, they may include a wireless data transceiver, capable oftransmitting and receiving signals to and from the transmitter unit.Such signals may indicate safe operation of at least one of the receiverand the transmitter unit. The transceiver may also be capable ofreceiving a signal instruction for initiating the adaptive opticalelement. In the latter case, the receiver should further comprise apower source capable of supplying power to initiate the adaptive opticalelement.

Yet other implementations describe a method of operating a free spacelaser, the laser comprising:

(i) first retroreflector having a gain medium juxtaposed thereto,

(ii) a remotely located second retroreflector,

(iii) an adaptive optical element juxtaposed to either of the first andthe second retroreflectors, and

(iv) an element for extracting energy from a laser beam reflectedbetween the retro reflectors,

the method comprising the sequential steps of applying an input impulseto the adaptive optical element to provide it with an initial focusingpower, and exciting the gain medium to induce lasing.

This method may further comprise the step of removing the input impulseto the adaptive optical element when the lasing has commenced.Furthermore, the first retroreflector having a gain medium juxtaposedthereto may comprise a transmitter, and the remotely located secondretroreflector and the element for extracting energy from the laser beammay comprise a receiver, and the method may then further comprise thestep of transmitting a signal between the transmitter and the receiverin either direction, the signal providing information indicatingparameters relating to the laser. The information may include at leastone of beam power, wavelength, pulse duration and availability foroperation. Additionally, the information may include identification ofat least one of the transmitter and the receiver. The signal may be usedto indicate that safe operation is achieved. In such a case, the methodmay further comprise the steps of stopping lasing when the signalindicates that lasing is unsafe, or in the absence of a signalindicating safe operation. Additionally, the method may comprise thestep of providing external detectors indicating safe operation of thelaser.

Another exemplary implementation involves, a free space laser,comprising:

(i) a first retroreflector having a gain medium,

(ii) a remotely located second retroreflector having juxtaposed thereto,an element for extracting energy from a laser beam reflected between theretro reflectors, and

(iii) an adaptive optical element juxtaposed to either of the first andthe second retroreflectors,

wherein the adaptive optical element is dynamically configured to modifythe resonator properties of the laser such that stable resonator modesare obtained.

In such a free space laser, the adaptive optical element may bedynamically configured in accordance with changes in a characteristic ofthe laser beam. The gain medium may have a thickness between thesurfaces between which the beam traverses, substantially smaller thanits lateral dimensions. Additionally, the gain medium may be such thatits gain is substantially unchanged when the angle of incidence of thebeam is varied over a range of at least ±30°.

It is to be understood that throughout this application, and as may beclaimed, the terms optical power, focusing power and dioptric power areunderstood to be synonymous, indicating the optical focusing power ofthe element under consideration.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the terms cavity and resonator,as used throughout this application and as may be claimed, areunderstood to be synonymous, notwithstanding the possible implicationthat a cavity is often used in other literature to relate to a closedstructure, unlike the open nature of the resonators of the presentsystems.

Additionally, the gain of the gain medium is understood to mean themagnitude of the gain of the gain medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1A shows schematically an unstable resonator with a bystander's eyereceiving part of the spill-over power from the cavity; while FIG. 1Bshows how a bystander outside of the cavity limits of a stable resonatorwill not be subjected to any of the beam;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an exemplary power transmitting systemdescribed in the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a more pictorial view of the system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A shows schematically a thin disc of lasing material mounted on alight conveying substrate, pumped from its edges, such as could beadvantageously used in the system of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the criteria used which result in the choice ofthe thin disc for the lasing material: FIG. 4 shows an example of athick piece of lasing material, having poor overlap with the lasingbeam; FIG. 5 shows the situation of FIG. 4 where the lasing material isturned such that its cross-section faces the laser beam; FIG. 6illustrates a solution enabled by use of a thin disc of lasing material,which always has good overlap with the beam;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an exemplary implementation of the activemirror transmitter head for use as one of the three reflectors of thecorner cube in the transmitter of a system of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8A to 8C describe pictorially how a configuration of a thermalelement can maintain the cavity lasing correctly aligned and within thedesired stability limit, even while the cavity length and orientationchanges with motion of the receiver relative to the transmitter;

FIG. 9 is a graph of a result of a calculation showing the focaldistance of the thermal element as a function of thetransmitter-receiver distance;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary flow chart showing typical operation of thesystem from the start-up procedure;

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically an exemplary diffuser constructionwhich may be conveniently used with the systems described in thisdisclosure;

FIG. 12 is a system similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, butincluding details of the probe beam method of determining the presenceof a reflective obstruction in the beam path;

FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating the change in the radius of the laserbeam spot as a function of the thermal lens focusing power;

FIG. 14 is a graph showing how the beam expansion develops along thelength of the resonator; and

FIG. 15 shows the influence of thermal lensing on the gain medium in thetransmitter for the resonator described in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates schematically anexemplary power transmitting system comprising an electrically poweredtransmitter T, and a receiver R, which allows extraction of electricenergy, in order to power, for instance, a mobile electronic device. Thetransmitter should be mounted at a safe location out of reach ofpossible human contact, such as on the ceiling of a room or connected toa lighting fitting. The position should be such that the transmitter hasa line of sight to as much of the room's volume as possible. Suitablepositions may be to embed the transmitter within a ceiling lamp, withina television set or within a speaker unit, one approach to achieve thatwould be to add a standard lamp connection to the transmitter so that itcan connect to a standard lamp fitting.

T and R form a laser resonator, in which significant power circulates inthe form of a laser beam(s), which may advantageously be in theinfra-red. Since this arrangement of mirrors constitutes a ringresonator, two counter propagating beams may exist, and, with somearrangements of the mirrors, up to 6 beams. The transmitter contains thelaser gain medium, which may be pumped, for instance, with a laserdiode, while the receiver extracts a small part of the circulating laserlight to a photovoltaic cell, or to another energy converting unit,which can then generate electricity for powering the mobile device.Certain measures have to be taken to allow lasing operation over a widerange of positions and angular orientations of the receiver R for agiven position of the transmitter, T. These measures are generallydirected at providing a maximum field of view for the transmitter, wherethe field of view is understood to be the angular extent of thedirections to which the transmitter can transmit to a receiver at anygiven time.

Firstly corner cube reflectors may be used in both T and R. This allowsthe establishment of a beam path in the form of a non-planar ring, withthree reflections each at both T and R. The beams between T and R areapproximately parallel. As the system usually exhibits bidirectionallaser oscillation, i.e., oscillation in both propagation directions, twooutput beams may generally occur at the output coupler, though from oneto six beams is also feasible. Both the transmitter and the receiver maycontain retroreflectors, essentially as described in the abovereferenced WO/2007/036937. The retroreflectors of both T and R actuallycontain three rather than two mirrors, but only two mirrors are shown inthe two-dimensional drawing of FIG. 2. One of the mirrors in theretroreflector R should be an output coupler 14, partially transmittingthe light to a photovoltaic cell 16, or other conversion device, fromwhich electric power may be taken to power the mobile device associatedwith the receiver.

FIG. 3 is a more pictorial view of the system of FIG. 2, showing aschematic form of the ring lasing beam 20, with the transmitter T on thetop left hand side, containing an active mirror 12 with a gain medium13, and the receiver R on the bottom right hand side. An adaptiveoptical element 18, whose function will be expounded hereinbelow, isshown attached to one of the reflection surfaces of the receiverretroreflector. The adaptive element may also be incorporated into thetransmitter, or there may even be such elements in both receiver andtransmitter. Although the receiver location has the advantage thatseveral receivers could possibly be used with a single transmitter, italso has the disadvantage of putting possibly power-consuming elementsinto the receiver, where energy is more sparse than in the transmitter,and the space requirements may be tighter.

The gain medium of the exemplary system of the present disclosure may beintegrated into the transmitter in the form of an active mirror 12,which is the nomenclature used herewithin for a reflector having a thindisc of gain medium, such as in a thin disc laser. Such a geometry has anumber of advantages over prior art systems, as will be describedhereinbelow. The active mirror 12 may form one of the three reflectorsof the corner cube retroreflector used in the transmitter. It may bepumped with a laser diode, with the pump beam hitting the active spot atsome convenient angle. A pump configuration which obstructs as little aspossible of the beam aperture is most advantageous in this application,because of the need for a large angle of coverage from the transmitterexit aperture. An advantageous configuration incorporates a thin disc oflasing material 15 mounted on a light conveying substrate 17, pumpedfrom its edges 19, as is known in the art, and as shown in FIG. 3A, suchthat the light enters the lasing material over essentially the whole ofits surface area, yet without the pump source blocking any part of thebeam aperture over the surface of the disc.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 to 6, which illustrate the criteriaused which result in the choice of the thin disc for the lasingmaterial. The problem to be solved is that of the variable directionfrom which the beam may impinge on the lasing material as the receiveris moved relative to the transmitter. The system described in thisdisclosure is intended to enable a moving receiver to always be in suchoptical laser association with the transmitter, that the lasing takesplace regardless of the position and angle of the receiving element. Tomaintain the efficiency of the system, good overlap is required betweenthe beam and the active part of the lasing material. FIG. 4 shows anexample of a thick piece of lasing material 30, having poor overlap withthe lasing beam 32 impinging on the lasing material at an arbitraryangle. In FIG. 5, there is shown the situation where the lasing materialis turned such that its cross-section faces the laser beam 34, thusproviding good overlap and good lasing efficiency. However such a methodwould require a servo mechanism to rotate the lasing material so that italways faces the correct direction in space towards the receiver as thereceiver moves around. Such a mechanism is costly and complex, and maybe prone to failure.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 which illustrates a solution enabled byuse of a thin disc of lasing material 50. There is always good overlapof the beam with the thin disc of lasing material 50, regardless of theposition of the receiver, and hence of the direction of the beam 52connecting transmitter with receiver. The good beam overlap over a widefield of view is also advantageous in that it ensures that most of thelasing medium volume is involved with generating the main beam beingtransmitted, such that little or none of it may contribute to lasing ina different direction. The thin disc of lasing material does notnecessarily have to be disc shaped, i.e. round, but can be any shape,having its thickness between the surfaces of impingement of the laserbeam substantially less than its lateral dimension. Such a thin disc ofgain material is also known as an active mirror. A VECSEL (VerticalExternal Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) diode, also known as asemiconductor thin disc, can also be used to provide such anadvantageous overlap.

Reference is now made in FIG. 7 which is a schematic view of anexemplary implementation of the active mirror (thin disc) transmitterhead for use as one of the three reflectors of the corner cube in thetransmitter. The laser crystal may be of Nd:YAG in the form of a thindisc 60, having an anti-reflection coating 62 on its outer face and areflecting dielectric or metallic coating 64 on the back side, which maybe directly mounted on a heat sink 66, which can be air cooled,water-cooled or Peltier cooled. An exemplary 150 μm thick disk of thismaterial with a Nd doping concentration of 2% enables efficientabsorption of a pump beam at 808 nm in a double pass of the pumpradiation, assuming that the above-mentioned reflective coating 64reflects at a reasonable level, both laser and pump light. If the pumpedarea has a radius of approximately 0.6 mm, a pump power of 15 W cangenerate more than 50% optical gain, which should be sufficient for anapplication for beaming power to a mobile electronic device, such as aphone or a laptop.

The use of Nd:YAG, rather than the cheaper Nd:Glass (though the recentavailability of Nd:YAG in ceramic form may significantly reduce the costdifferential) is advantageous, since:

(i) It has a high gain efficiency and thus allows working with arelatively large pumped spot, limiting the beam divergence and thus thebeam size at the receiver.

(ii) It offers high pump absorption without using complicated multipassoptics.

A disadvantage of materials like Nd:YVO₄ is that its gain is stronglypolarization dependent, so that polarization considerations have to betaken into account also. Furthermore, since Nd:YVO₄ is birefringent, itis potentially unsafe to use in these systems, since the birefringenceof the gain medium may split the beam into 2 or 4 beams. One of thesebeams will be reflected back along the lasing cavity, while the otherbeam or beams will be emitted parallel the main beam but shifted or evenat a different angle in some rare cases. These other beams may pose asafety risk, as they may hit a person or object. It is therefore saferto use a gain medium with low birefringence such as Nd:YAG instead ofNd:YVO₄. or a medium with low optical thickness so that beams ofdifferent polarizations (or the two components of the same beam), willnot undergo a large shift and emerging beams will substantially overlap.Furthermore, mechanical stress, which may be induced by inhomogeneousheating, can introduce stress birefringence even in a material nothaving a natural birefringence. Therefore, even if a medium withoutnatural birefringence is used, it should, as far as possible, beoperated under conditions with minimal induced stress. Additionally,birefringent materials should be avoided for use in the thermal lens andin the front windows of the transmitter and the receiver, unless lowoptical thickness components are used.

An important aspect of the active mirror approach in the systems of thepresent application is that a semiconductor gain chip (VECSEL) could beused in the above-described systems instead of a laser crystal.Optically or electrically pumped semiconductor lasers without areflective coating on at least one surface (VECSEL's), as mentionedabove, have the potential of cheap mass fabrication and allow forrelatively high output powers with small beam distortions. The typicalsize of such VECSEL's even allows the assembly of two or more suchVECSEL's at normal angle to each other, to have two amplifying mirrorsinstead of one. Such a structure has the following advantages:

(i) It is small and allows for high gain.

(ii) It can be mass produced.

(iii) The proximity of the gain chips allows for optical pumping withone or more pump beams.

(iv) The proximity of the gain chips allows for a single cooling systemto be used on all gain chips. To achieve that, the size of the pumpedarea on the gain chips must be slightly higher, and not all of it willbe used.

As previously stated, in order to achieve safe laser operation, it isnecessary to operate the cavity in a stable, rather than an unstableconfiguration. One of the features which characterizes a stableresonator is that the mode diameter at the gain volume must be smalleror equal to the gain media effective cross section diameter. If it isbigger, part of the amplitude distribution will be cut off and the modewill propagate as an unstable resonator mode. Typically the gain volumeis not bigger than a few millimeters in diameter, therefore the systemshould have a focal point on, or slightly behind the surface of the gainmedium, but not in front of it. It is to be understood that the term“focal point” is not used herewithin to mean the point at which the beamis actually focused, which is changeable and depends on the form of themode at any particular time, but rather in the sense of the center ofcurvature of the beam's wavefront after it has passed throughout theoptical elements, which in this case is the center of curvature of thereceiver mirror, (which is approximately half the focal length of themirror, in the case where a mirror is used) or the optically equivalentpoint in the case when a lens is used. This “focal point” is thus ageometric property of the cavity configuration used. In cases wherethere are more optical components in the system, or even thermal lensesoperative at the gain medium, the “best” position of the focal point maychange, but the beam's diameter in the gain medium must be smaller thanor equal to the effective cross section diameter of the gain medium. Theresonator should operate close to the edge of its stability region, withthe beam having a small radius on the active spot of the gain medium andreaching a significantly larger radius on the rear mirror at thereceiver.

In order to maintain such a focal point position, when the receiver maybe moving relative to the transmitter, the focal distance of the cavitymirror has to be changed constantly as the receiver is moved.

One method of achieving such a variable focus would be by use of avariable focus optical system. A control system could be used to bringthe focal point close to the active mirror by mechanically,electronically or optically changing the properties of the opticalsystem. One example of such a system would be a zoom lens with a servocontrol mechanism activated for instance, by the power level of thelasing. Such systems, although feasible, have a number of disadvantages,especially that they are complicated and therefore may be expensive andprone to failure. Furthermore, precise positioning in both thelongitudinal and transverse directions is required at the same time toobtain lasing. Even with adjustment of the zoom lens position in alldirections, the range of accessible directions would probably besubstantially limited.

It would therefore be preferable if a self aligning optical system couldbe used, without a mechanically servo-controlled focusing element. Sucha system should be capable of performing the following functions:

(i) automatically adjusting the lens position to the center of the beam;

(ii) automatically maintaining the exact focal distance required toachieve lasing; and

(iii) allowing the system to turn a single receiver on while turning allthe other receivers in the vicinity off, such that the system would laseonly towards the receiver turned on. At a later point in time the systemmay turn another receiver on, while turning the first receiver off toallow that second receiver to receive power. It is assumed thatreceivers may be equipped with an energy storage device such as acapacitor or a battery, enabling it to supply power continuously whileoptical power is not available. It is preferable that only one receiveris turned on at any point in time.

An adaptive optical element would be a suitable component for performingsuch a function. A number of potentially useful types of adaptiveoptical elements are available. Amongst such elements are thermallenses, lenses which can be mechanically deformed by means ofpiezoelectric or similar actuators, and optical elements incorporatingpixelated liquid crystal cells, which can be switched to provide smallphase shifts necessary to change the optical power form of the element.Elements, such as mechanically deformable lenses and those incorporatingliquid crystal cells are dependent on obtaining a feedback input fromone of the system outputs, such as the optical power. Thus, forinstance, a deformable mirror whose shape is adjusted to bring the focalpoint to the correct position, could use the laser power as the inputparameter to control the deformable mirror, by means of changes in thethermal expansion of different parts of the lens. Thermal lenses on theother hand can be made to be self adjusting once lasing has commenced,relying for their operation only on the laser power incident on them,and without any other control input. In the description following, athermal lens is used as an exemplary implementation of the use of anadaptive optical element in the present systems, though it is to beunderstood that such a thermal lens is not meant to limit the invention,but is merely used as an example for any type of adaptive opticalelement.

Thermal lenses are known in the art, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,427for “Thermally controlled lenses for lasers” to John J. Zayhowski, andU.S. Pat. No. 4,872,743 for “Varifocal optical element” to T. Baba etal. The thermal lens effect arises when the material of the opticalelement under consideration has a thermo-optic effect, quantified byvariation of the refractive index n, with temperature T, do/dT, suchthat when, for instance, the gain medium is hotter on the beam axis thanat the outer regions, a transverse gradient of the refractive index isgenerated, creating a lens effect. Also, thermal lensing effects canarise from thermally induced stress via piezo-optic and/or surfacebulging effects.

A correctly designed thermal lens could have the following properties,which would enable it to fulfill many of the above requirements.

(i) For most beams shapes, and in cases where the lens is heated by thelaser beam, the center of the lens is coincident with the center of thebeam

(ii) It can be turned on or off, such as by controlling the temperaturein various parts of the thermal lens.

(iii) It can have a variable focal distance.

(iv) Aberrations can be corrected by small adjustments to the localtemperature, or by selecting a heat sink with a spatially variable heatremoval capability.

(v) Because of the flat nature of the basic structure, high yield andquantity manufacturing is possible.

One method of implementing such a thermal lens in systems described inthe present application, could be by use of a mirror structurecontaining a partially light-absorbing layer, in which absorption oflight generates the thermal lens effect. For start-up of the system, aswill be described hereinbelow, the mirror could also contain an electricheater which enables scanning through a range of dioptric powers untillasing starts. Once lasing is established, it can, via absorption of thelight, maintain the thermal lens itself. Although in this application,the thermal lensing effect is generated by changes in the optical powerof the thin “lens” layer on top of the mirror assembly, and not strictlyby a lens, the generic term “thermal lensing” is used throughout thisapplication to describe the effect, even when it arises from thermalchanges in a reflective element.

Thus, by careful design, it is possible to achieve a thermal lens effectthat maintains the correct focal length, without the need for anyelectronic or other external control. Examples and methods of suchdesigns are now explained below.

In a thermal lens application with such an automatic focusingcapability, the natural expansion of the beam beyond the beam waist isused as the main control input mechanism for controlling the focaldistance.

It is in the nature of optical systems that beams expand when movingaway from their waist. The distance over which the beam's diameter isincreased by a factor of 2 is called the Rayleigh length. The amount ofexpansion is determined by system design. Especially importantparameters to determine the Rayleigh length include:

(i) The diameter of the beam at its waist.

(ii) The distance traveled from the waist.

(iii) The mode distribution of the beam—TEM₀₀ beams, for instance,expand less than multimode beams.

(iv) The presence of optical components in the beam's path.

(v) The beam wavelength.

An optical component with a thermal lensing capability, generallyproduced by absorption of some of the light incident thereon, can bedesigned such that over a predefined range, and for a certain opticalpower, a focal distance is maintained which is correct both for allowinglasing to occur, and for ensuring centering of the laser beam. Theabsorption is generally of a fixed fraction of the incident radiation,but dynamic absorption tuning may also be achieved by wavelength ortemperature control. In such dynamic absorption tuning, if, for example,the absorption is too high, it would be possible to reduce it by eitherdetuning the lasing wavelength from the thermal lens absorption maximum,or by lowering the intra-cavity power, or by cooling the thermal lensmore aggressively.

Two processes drive the focal length and position of such a componenttowards the correct focal length required by the system, such that thestabilizing effect of the thermal lens is achieved. Two basicrelationships exist between the focal length of the thermal lens, andthe length of the lasing cavity, arising from the fact that the focallength of the thermal element is dependent on the power density of thepower incident thereupon, and on its area distribution.

(i) When the receiver is moved away from the beam's waist on the gainmedium, resulting in the cavity length increasing, the spot sizegenerated on the thermal mirror increases. As a result, the focal lengthof the thermal lens created by that beam increases as well.(ii) On the other hand, should the focal length become too short tomaintain the optimal focal point, and to sustain just the TEM₀₀ mode,multimode lasing will commence, increasing the M² parameter of the beam,and thus increasing the beam's diameter on the thermal mirror. Thisincrease in beam diameter may in turn increase the focal length of thethermal mirror, thus returning it towards the desired value.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8A to 8C to describe pictorially how thetrade-off between these two processes enables such a configuration of athermal element to maintain the cavity lasing correctly aligned andwithin the desired stability limit, even as the cavity length andorientation changes with motion of the receiver. FIGS. 8A to 8Cillustrate schematically the laser cavity with the receiverincorporating the thermal lensing element 81 mounted on the back mirror(or output coupler) of the cavity, and the gain medium 82 mounted withinthe transmitter unit.

In FIG. 8A, there is shown the situation where the receiver,incorporating the thermal element 81 is at an initial fairly closedistance relative to the gain element 82 in the transmitter, such thatthe effective cavity length is relatively short. Because of thecloseness to the beam waist, the spot size on the thermal lens iscomparatively small, and the thermal lens thus generates a short focallength, commensurate with the short cavity length. The focal point 85 ofthe fundamental TEM₀₀ beam mode 86 (for a circular beam), is projectedsomewhat beyond the end of the cavity, in keeping with the plannedrequirement to ensure that the cavity operates in a stable zone.However, if the focal length begins to become shorter, it may not beable to support only fundamental mode lasing, and additional higherorder modes will evolve. This is shown in FIG. 8A, where the small spotsize on the gain medium 82 leaves a significant area of the gain mediumunutilized for maintaining the fundamental TEM₀₀ mode, and higher ordermodes, such as TEM₀₁ may develop within the cavity to fill the gainmedium, as shown by the dotted lines 84 in FIG. 8A. However, as suchmultimode propagation fills the area of the thermal element 81, marked Cin FIG. 8A, the power of the thermal element falls because of the moreuniform heating of the element, and the focal length of the thermal lensthus increases towards the optimum value for that cavity length.Conversely, if the focal point becomes too far away for the cavitylength used at that moment, the number of higher order modes would bereduced, the beam diameter on the thermal component would be reduced tothe value A in FIG. 8A, and as a result of the more localized heating,the focusing power of the thermal lense would thus increase again,shortening the focal length. This trade-off thus ensures stableoperation, with the focal length iteratively kept at its optimumdesigned value.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8B, which illustrates the situation whenthe receiver is moved further away from the transmitter. For the firstmoments after the movement, before any thermal changes have taken placein the system, the focal length of the thermal lens remains the same,and the focal spot 85 thus moves closer towards the gain medium 82 inunison with the movement of the receiver away from the gain medium ofthe receiver. The size of the lasing spot on the gain medium thusbecomes smaller, as shown in FIG. 8B, such that the size of the lasingarea of the fundamental mode on the thermal lens becomes larger. This ismarked B in FIG. 8B, where B is greater than A of FIG. 8A. This largerincident area results in a more spread out heating effect on the thermallens, which thus becomes optically weaker and its focal length longer,thus driving the focal spot further back beyond the gain medium 82. Thismovement of the focal spot, towards its original position in FIG. 8A, isshown in FIG. 8C, and it ensures a continued stable resonator operationin spite of the receiver having been moved further away from itsoriginal position. FIG. 8C shows the situation in the system afterthermal equilibrium has again been achieved, with the beam configurationsuch that the cavity operates as a stable resonator, similar to that ofFIG. 8A. The exact mix of fundamental and higher order modes may besomewhat different from that of FIG. 8A because of the different cavitylength, but stable operation of the cavity will be maintained. Thethermal lens thus generates a self regulating focusing effect,maintaining stable resonator operation independently of the position ofthe receiver relative to the transmitter. Of course, once the maximumdistance has been superseded, lasing will cease.

The thermal lens focal length, for a thin thermal componentapproximation, is given by:

$f = {1.1781\;\frac{\kappa\; R_{1}^{4}}{\frac{dn}{dT}P_{1}\alpha\; d^{2\;}}}$whereκ is the thermal conductivity of the component;

-   dn/dT is the derivative of the refractive index with respect to    temperature;    P₁ is the intra-cavity power and a is the fraction of it absorbed by    the thermal mirror;    d is the active mirror thickness; and    R₁ is the beam radius on the component.

With the exception of R, all the parameters in the above formula arepredetermined by the design and the materials of the element, thusallowing for a design having a predetermined focal length f for acertain value of R and absorbed power αP₁, and which will support thefundamental mode using that focal distance. When such a thermal elementis moved closer to the transmitter, the mechanism described above willmake sure that the correct focal length is maintained.

R₁, the beam's radius at the thermal mirror/lens, is determined by twofactors (besides wavelength and orientation):

(i) The mode size of the fundamental mode on the gain medium on theactive mirror in the transmitter, this being always smaller than thesize of the active mirror itself. The mode size itself is determined bythe focal length of the thermal mirror and the distance at which thebeam is measured from the focal point.(ii) The modes that can exist in the laser cavity.

If the thermal element is designed such that it absorbs a certainportion of the intra-cavity power then for any chosen material withgiven thermal lensing properties, absorption parameters and intra-cavitypower, there is some maximal distance, where the mode size, determinedby the lens, would support only fundamental mode lasing, due tolimitations of the active mirror diameter. Without changing any of theabove parameters, stable cavity lasing is not possible if the cavitylength is increased beyond this distance while using the sameparameters—intra-cavity power, absorption and thermal lensingproperties. If this distance is increased beyond the point of singlemode lasing, the focal point would move further away, and lasing wouldstop. However, if this distance is decreased, the size of the beam onthe thermal element becomes smaller, as a result of which, the focusingpower of the element would become stronger, compensating for the smallerfocal distance now needed because of the shorter cavity length, asexplained above.

Typically, the focal length would become too short to support onlyfundamental mode lasing (TEM₀₀ in the case of a circular beam), andadditional higher order modes will evolve. These new modes would makethe beam slightly larger, thus resulting in an increase of the focallength of the thermal element, thus bringing the focal distance to anoptimal value. There are thus two balancing forces in operation on thecavity as a result of the thermal element:

(i) If the focal point becomes too close for the cavity length used atthat moment, multimode lasing evolves, increasing the size of the beamon the thermal element and increasing the focal distance to the optimumvalue for that cavity length.

(ii) If the focal point is too far away for the cavity length used atthat moment, the number of modes would be reduced, the beam diameter onthe thermal component would be reduced and the focusing power would thusincrease again, shortening the focal length.

FIG. 9 is a graph of a result of a calculation showing the focaldistance of the thermal element as a function of thetransmitter-receiver distance, for a pure TEM₀₀ system with intra-cavitypower of 80 W, in which the thermal mirror is made of a thin, 300micron, layer of silver thiogallate (AgGaS₂), AGS, and which absorbs1.5% of the power traversing it, due to an absorbing coating on it, andthe gain medium radius on the active mirror is 0.65 mm.

The design of such a system is based on determining optimal values forat least some of the following parameters:

(i) The diameter of the active part of the gain medium.

(ii) The parameters of the material used to achieve thermal lensing,especially its values of dn/dT and κ. Other parameters, such as lifetimeand cost could also be taken into account, but these parameters are ofcommercial and convenience importance, and do not affect the opticalperformance.(iii) The thickness of the thermal lensing material d.(iv) The amount of absorption on the thermal mirror.(v) The mechanism for heat removal from the thermal mirror.Setting those parameters would determine the maximal operation distancefor a given intra-cavity power.

For any choice of parameters it is possible to calculate theintra-cavity power using the above formula as well as Rayleigh'sformula. However if a material with high dn/dT/K is chosen, the choiceof intra-cavity power is more flexible.

By using such a mirror/lens, the thermal component typically being alens bonded to a heat sink or a mirror, it is possible to maintain thecavity in stable operation even when the receiver is moving, withouthaving to mechanically or electronically align the lens to the correctposition, focal length and direction.

Even if the beam is at an angle to the optical element, if thethermo-optical element is thin compared to its diameter, as describedherein, the focusing power of the lens would behave as if it were a lensthat is centered and perpendicular to the beam. For this reason a thinthermal element is preferable.

A number of limitations exist:

(i) The diameter of the active part of the gain medium needs to be largeenough so that the Rayleigh length of the fundamental mode is longenough to enable the size of the beam on the thermal mirror to generatea sufficiently short focal length.

(ii) The diameter of the active part of the gain medium needs to belarge enough so that the size of the beam on the thermal mirror is notbigger than the thermal mirror itself, even at maximal operatingdistance.

(iii) The diameter of the active part of the gain medium needs to besmall enough to allow for a sufficiently low saturation power of thegain medium so as to provide sufficient lasing efficiency.

Making the diameter of the active part of the gain medium too smallwould cause the beam's area on the thermal mirror to be large, whichwill require high power for heating the element in order to maintain theproper focal length. Typically the Rayleigh length needs to be in thesame order of magnitude as the maximal operation distance. If anoperation distance of several meters is chosen, the diameter of theactive part of the gain medium would have to be around 1 mm. Howeversetting this diameter to give too large an area, would require higherpower to create population inversion, as this is determined by theintensity of the pump, rather than its power, and would make the laserinefficient since the creation of population inversion in a larger areawould need higher pump power. The power used to cause populationinversion is almost entirely converted to fluorescent light and heat,rather than to laser radiation.

For an operation distance of 3-5 meter, which is typical of the requiredrange of the type of transmission system described in WO/2007/036937,the optimal value would appear to be in the range 0.2-2 mm radius.

From the above two values, combined with the maximal angle allowed forthe thermal mirror and the beam, the minimal radius of the thermalmirror can be calculated.

In the above described systems, the thermal lens is maintained at theoptimal focal length by the optical power that exists in the cavityduring lensing. However in order for such a system to be practical,there is further need to achieve two objectives.

(i) The thermal lens needs to be created initially for lasing tocommence.

(ii) When the intra-cavity power changes, which can easily occur as aresult of additional losses in the cavity, the thermal lens has to bemaintained, either by changing the intra-cavity power or by heating thethermal lens using an external heat source.

To achieve this, two capabilities are needed in the system.

(i) The ability to heat the thermal lens using an energy source otherthan intra-cavity lasing. There are many methods to achievethis—especially important though are electrical and optical heating asthey can be easily be controlled electronically.

(ii) The ability to detect changes in the intra-cavity power and tocompensate for them. Such an ability also has another important use—todetect factors compromising the safety of operation of the system, whichare usually accompanied by power loss and/or changes of the beam shape.

Creating the thermal lens may be achieved by one or more of:

(i) Disposing one or more heating elements in the vicinity of thethermal mirror. Electric heating elements are particularly suitable forthis method.

(ii) Illuminating the thermal mirror with light to create the initialthermal lens.

(iii) Applying a force to the thermal mirror, so as to bend it andcreate the initial focal distance. This could be readily achieved usinga piezo-electric actuator.

(iv) Disposing a controlled optical element in close vicinity to thethermal mirror. Such an element may be a liquid crystal element or asimilar element that changes it refractive index with response toelectrical current or voltage.

In some systems it may be advantageous to use two or more such thermalfocusing elements instead of a single one.

The thermal lens creation process needs to be stopped gradually whenlasing starts, to avoid creating a lens stronger then needed forstabilizing the lasing. This can be done by detecting lasing, or moreprecisely by detecting intra-cavity power. In many cases this reductionin the heating of the thermal lens needs to be gradual rather thansudden, since lasing typically does not start at full power. Suchchanges in the intra-cavity power may be detected by monitoring eitherthe output power or the intra-cavity power itself, or a small portion ofthe intra-cavity power or of the output power.

During this startup procedure the system has also to perform severalother tasks:

(i) To verify that the correct and qualified receiver receives thepower. This could be used to allow for multiple receivers to receivepower from the same transmitter at different times.

(ii) To verify that there are no power leaks or transparent objects inthe cavity's path

(iii) To determine operational parameters, such as corrections to thethermal lens, the demanded intra-cavity power, wavelength and otherreceiver-transmitter interface parameters.

Avoiding transparent objects in the cavity may be done by directlymeasuring the effect of the object, for example, by transmitting a lightbeam through it. By placing a light source having a specific spectrum inthe receiver or transmitter, it is possible to measure the transmissionof the cavity in various directions and at different wavelengths, eitherby a round trip method using the receiver/transmitter asretroreflectors, or by a one way method. In such a case, if use is madeof a wavelength that is absorbed by glass, such as UV wavelengths, itshould be possible to detect a window in the cavity's path.

Such a startup procedure can also be used to enable the system todeliver power to any specific receiver out of a number of receivers thatmay be positioned around the transmitter. The various receivers areinterrogated to determine their identity, and all other receivers areturned off except the one with the correct identification.

Typical operation of the system from the start-up procedure may beillustrated in the exemplary flow chart of FIG. 10, though it is to beunderstood that other possible schemes may equally well be used. In thischart, the type of channel used to convey the information is shown bythe form of the lines connecting the various steps. Electronic controlsignals transmitted most conveniently over hard wiring are shown ascontinuous lines. Control signals advantageously transmitted by RF orwireless are shown as faint dotted lines. Information determined by thecontent of the lasing beam is shown transferred by heavy dotted lines.It is to be understood, though, that other control in formation transferschemes are also possible.

In steps 120 to 125, the transmitter and designated receiver confirmthat they are capable of operating together as a pair, communicatingwith each to ascertain that the designated receiver is entitled toreceive power.

In step 120, the transmitter sends a signal over its sphere ofinfluence, over which it can transmit, to indicate that it is ready totransmit laser power.

In step 121, the receiver sensors are busy scanning the environment inorder to detect whether a transmitter is available for providing it withpower.

In step 122, if no transmitter signal is received, the control returnsto step 121 to instruct the receiver to continue looking for atransmitter. On the other hand if a transmitter signal is detected, thenin step 123 the receiver sends back a wireless signal to thetransmitter, indicating that it is present and ready to receive power.

In step 124 the transmitter control system identifies the receiver andin step 125 determines whether it is entitled to receive power, such asby ascertaining that it can communicate correctly with the transmitter.If no such confirmation is ascertained, then the transmitter continuesto send out signals in step 120 until it does detect a candidatereceiver. On the other hand, if receiver identification is positive,then control proceeds to step 126.

The above steps have been solely used in order to establish a validtransmitter and receiver pair. From this point on, from step 126, theprocedure for establishing lasing power is now begun.

In step 126, the transmitter instructs the receiver to commence creatingthe adaptive optical focusing element, using a procedure such as isdescribed hereinabove.

In step 127, the receiver commences this start-up procedure and arudimentary adaptive lens is generated, followed in step 128 bytransmission of a signal back to the transmitter that such a lens hasbeen created.

In step 129, the transmitter checks for such a signal, and if none isdetected, control returns to step 126 where an instruction to initiateadaptive lens generation is again transmitted.

On the other hand, if confirmation of the generation of an adaptive lensis received in step 129, then in step 130, the transmitter instructs theexcitation pump to try to turn on the gain medium for a very brief timeby emitting a single pulse of exciting power, sufficiently short so asnot to exceed the maximal safety limits should lasing occur towards an“unauthorized receiver”.

In step 131, the receiver attempts to detect whether a lasing beam isreceived. If no lasing is detected, them in step 132, the receiverattempts to change the adaptive lens parameters in order, in step 127,to more successfully generate a lens capable of providing the cavitywith the correct parameters to support lasing. Typically a number offocal lengths, center positions of the lens and other parameters need tobe checked before lasing can start.

The iterative control loop through steps 128, 129, 126 is then repeated,until a successful adaptive lens is created. Success of this stage, asdetermined by the detection in step 131 of lasing of significant power,is converted into an enabling signal in step 133, and is transmitted bythe receiver back to the transmitter.

In step 134, the transmitter decodes the enabling signal received fromthe transmitter. In step 135, the transmitter control checks that theenabling signal transmitted by the receiver in step 133 exists andindicates normal safe operation. In steps 136 and 137 further checks areperformed to ascertain positive laser detection and the absence of anysafety-related disabling signals. Amongst the checks performed could bethe continuously monitoring for signals warning about any of powerfluctuations; loss of control signal; transmitted status from thereceiver; and a stop signal from the receiver as well as the signal fromthe “window detector” an other safety mechanisms. Negative results fromany of these interrogation steps, returns control to step 126, possiblywith a delay, when the instruction to generate a new adaptive lens istransmitted.

If, on the other hand, the laser detection and safety checks in steps135, 136 and 137 are passed, lasing having been achieved, and themeasured intensity indicating that no losses that exceed safety limitsare present, and there is no other indication of a potential problem,then the signal is given in step 139 for the transmitter to continue toturn on the gain medium using continuous pump power. This is performedin step 140, which passes a signal to the transmitter enabler 134, andthe system continues to lase.

In steps 141 and 142, the receiver now checks that lasing is properlydetected, and that no safety warning indicators are flagged. Typically,a few pulses are needed to determine that the party is not blocked byany transparent objects. In step 143, a confirmation signal is generatedthat lasing of correct quality is established. This signal istransmitted by the receiver at step 133, back to the transmitter.

Thus, while lasing is preceding and power is being transmitted, both thereceiver and transmitter control circuits continually test for thepresence of lasing and for the absence of any safety warnings.

An alternative method to that of steps 136-137 above, to determine thatno transparent objects, such as windows, are located in the optical pathbetween the transmitter and receiver, is for the transmitter to emitlight having a predetermined spectrum, but which would change if it wereto pass through a transparent object. For example, if the spectrum wereto include UV wavelengths, these would be absorbed by a glass window.The light would be reflected from the retroreflector in the receiver sothat it may be measured by the transmitter after passing twice throughthe cavity. The same method can be performed by transmitting light fromthe receiver or transmitter and measuring it at the transmitter orreceiver respectively. However the probably simplest, mostenergy-efficient method, is to do so from the transmitter.

Such a signal can be generated using a UV or white light LED source, forexample, or any other suitable light emitting device. In the case of aUV LED, a window would absorb the UV so that it does not reach thetransmitter, allowing the transmitter to detect such a window. In thecase of a white light source, the transmitter can detect a change in thespectrum of the light source, such as by the use of a number ofdetectors, each having a filter with a different passband, such thatdifferences in the detector outputs indicate absorption in a specificwavelength region. A component arrangement which may be used to performthese tasks are shown in FIG. 11 below. To distinguish this speciallight source from the environment it is possible to modulate the lightsource in some predetermined manner.

The same special techniques described above, or at least some of thesteps therefrom, can also be used to verify that no risk occurs duringnormal operation. If the signal from the UV LED, or from the white lightsource, or any other light source having a unique spectrum, is stoppedor its level changes abruptly, or if the power level in the cavitychanges, or if the receiver stops transmitting the “OK” signal, thetransmitter should stop lasing as soon as possible to avoid apotentially unsafe situation. In such a case, the transmitter couldtypically wait a few seconds, and then reinitialize the startupprocedure.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of techniques to avoidexceeding the maximal allowed optical power density on the components.For most components the obvious method of controlling the beam's radiusis the best method. However, photovoltaic cells are not currentlyavailable with a capability of handling the typical power densitiespresent in a system capable of powering, for instance, a laptopcomputer, amounting to many watts of optical power on a few mm² area. Inorder to spread out the beam, to allow the photovoltaic cell to receivesuch levels of power, a diffuser may be used.

Reference is now made to FIG. 11, which illustrates schematically oneexemplary diffuser construction 100, which may be conveniently used withthe systems described in this disclosure. The diffuser resembles anintegrating sphere in action, in that the rear leaking optical powerextracted from the back of the output coupler 101 is bounced around theinside of the diffuser onto one or more photovoltaic cells 102 disposedaround the walls. The diffuser filling material may be made of atranslucent material, such that the incident light is scattered in alldirections. The walls may be constructed rectilinearly for moreconvenient integration into the receiver geometry.

Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which is similar to the system shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, but includes details of the optical component values,and the control modules and control paths for ensuring correct operationof the system. The system consists of a transmitter and receiver. Thetransmitter may consist of an active mirror as gain medium, with activegain area having a radius allowing for a Rayleigh length of 1-30 m(typical usage range) or a diameter of approximately 0.1-4 mm of theactive part of the gain medium, as well as two mirrors connected to itat normal angle to the active mirror and to each other.

Further the transmitter should include an exciter 115, capable ofexciting the gain medium. An exemplary exciter can be a laser source orany other optical pumping source, as is known in the art, or a currentsource. The exciter should be of the type which directs the pump lightfrom the side of the gain medium, as is known in the art, rather than apump which directs the pump energy onto the front face, whicharrangement may obstruct part of the laser transmitting aperture. Animportant additional set of components is related to the detection ofthe control light source, used in order to determine whether anobstruction enters the beam path, as explained hereinabove. The lightsource 110, could be a UV LED, and the light beam, after reflection inthe receiver retroreflector 111, is detected by one or more detectors112, possibly with filters 113 at their inputs if a broadband source isused, all as explained hereinabove. In some cases the transmitter couldalso have a data transceiver 119 to transmit and receive the receiver'sstatus.

The receiver may consist of a retroreflector, in which at least onemirror should be a thermal mirror and at least one mirror should be anoutput coupler. It should also have a light-power converter, and mayhave a control light source, and some logic circuits. Possibly it couldalso have a transceiver 116 to transmit and receive its status andinstructions to the transmitter.

Cavity Design Calculations

Although the practical details and some theoretical considerations forimplementing systems described in the present application have beendescribed hereinabove, some additional theoretical background materialfor designing the cavity and the thermal lens parameters are nowpresented.

As previously explained in some detail, in order to ensure safeoperation of the systems of the present application, and to limit theresonator losses, the laser resonator has to be a stable one, in whichthe basic mode of the beam has a closed path inside the resonator. Forunstable resonators, the beam spill-over may be potentially hazardous,and the diffraction losses may be so high that a substantially higherlaser gain would be needed.

It appears to be convenient to operate the device relatively close tothe stability limit, where the dioptric power of the thermal lens in thereceiver is slightly smaller than 2 divided by the resonator length. Inthat regime, a reasonably small laser mode on the gain medium can beachieved without using additional optics, which would strongly restrictthe allowed angular range. The beam then exhibits substantial expansionon its way from the transmitter to the receiver.

A simplified model of the resonator, as shown in FIG. 2, is that of alinear resonator, disregarding the two corner cubes. On the transmitterside, there is the active mirror with its gain medium, which may havesome moderate dioptric power due to thermal lensing in the gain medium,and on the receiver side there is the variable focus mirror with itsthermal lens effect.

Reference is now made to FIG. 13, which is a graph illustrating theeffect of the thermal lens in the receiver. A fixed resonator length,(the distance between the transmitter and the receiver) of 4 m isassumed. All resonator modes calculations are done based on thewell-known ABCD matrix algorithm.

In the graph of FIG. 13, the ordinate is the beam radius in microns,while the abscissa is the focusing power of the thermal lens in diopters(1/m). Both curves assume that there is no thermal lensing at thetransmitter. The top curve 130 shows the radius of the beam on thethermal lens in the receiver as a function of its focusing power, whilethe bottom curve 132 shows a radius of the beam on the gain medium as afunction of the thermal lens focusing power. As expected, the beam spotsize on thermal lens in the receiver is always larger than that on thegain medium in the transmitter. As is observed the shorter the focallength of the thermal lens the smaller the spot size on the gain media,and conversely for the spot size on the thermal lens. A focal length ofshorter than about 2 m would render the cavity unusable. As an exampleof the use of these design curves, it is observed that a beam radius of,for instance, 0.6 mm (600 μm) at the gain medium in the transmitterrequires operating the resonator with a thermal lens of focal length2.13 m (a focusing power of 0.47/m), and for this focal length, the beamradius at the receiver is then 2.4 mm, as seen from the top curve of thebeam diameter on the thermal mirror.

For lower dioptric powers (longer focal lengths), the beam radius on thegain medium in the active mirror becomes too large, so that theeffective gain is reduced and lasing will eventually not be possible.For higher dioptric powers (shorter focal lengths), but still within thestability region, the fundamental Gaussian resonator mode becomessmaller than the pumped spot on the active mirror, and higher-ordermodes will also start to propagate. Finally, laser oscillation will notoccur for even stronger thermal lensing beyond the stability region atthe right hand side of the graph, as the round-trip power losses wouldbecome very high.

Reference is now made to FIG. 14 which shows how the beam expansiondevelops along the length of the resonator, up to the full 4 m length ofthe resonator used in the graphs of FIG. 13.

References now made to FIG. 15 which shows the influence of thermallensing on the gain medium in the transmitter for the above describedresonator shown in FIG. 13. Although attempts should be made to limitthe strength of thermal lensing in the gain medium, some thermal lensingmay occur here and its effect is shown in FIG. 15. The axes of the graphin FIG. 15 have the same meanings as those of FIG. 13. The top curve 150shows the radius of the beam on the mirror in the receiver as a functionof the thermal lens effect focusing power, while the bottom curve 152shows the radius of the beam on the gain medium as a function of itsthermal lensing focusing power.

Thermal lensing increases the mode size on the gain medium in thetransmitter, which however can be compensated by using somewhat strongerlensing in the receiver, as long as the thermal lensing in the gainmedium is not too close to the corresponding stability limit.

The position of the stability limits with respect to dioptric power inthe transmitter T and receiver R strongly depends on the distance dbetween T and R: the limits for the dioptric powers are at 2/d (forexample, 0.5/m for the example shown of d=4 m). From this result, thefollowing can be determined:

(i) The dioptric power at R has to be varied roughly in inverseproportion to d. The dependence is actually slightly weaker, as forlarger distances it is necessary to go closer to the stability limit.

(ii) Thermal lensing in T can limit the allowable range d. If a rangeof, for instance, 5 m is desired, the dioptric power of the activemirror had to be limited to ≈0.3/m.

As a rough estimate for the dioptric power to be expected in an activemirror with a Gaussian pump intensity distribution, the followingformula can be used (the inverse of the equation shown in the detaileddescription):

$F_{th} = {\frac{\partial n}{\partial T}\frac{8d^{2\;}P_{dis}}{3\pi\;\kappa\; w^{4}}}$where the total dissipated power is P_(dis), the Gaussian pump beamradius is W, and the thickness d of the absorbing medium, which isassumed to be mounted on a heat sink with constant temperature. Forexample, using the values P_(dis)=4.5 W, w=0.6 mm, d=150 μm, κ≈8 W/Km,the result is F_(th)=0.25/m, which is close to the mentioned limit. Asmoother pump intensity distribution (e.g. with some super-Gaussianshape) may be used to reduce lensing; on the other hand, there areadditional contributions introduced via mechanical stress, which aremore difficult to estimate, and the limited thermal conductivity of theheat sink, which tend to increase the value. Some engineering trade-offmay thus be required to achieve a sufficiently weak thermal lens in thetransmitter. A possible measure would be to have a water-cooled heatsink where the center of the disk is cooled most aggressively, such asby making the thickness of the metal separating disk and cooling water aminimum at this point. Since thermal lensing at T is mostly dependent onthe pump profile, it is also possible to add a fixed optical element tocorrect for this. In particular, one of the other mirrors of theretroreflector might have a slight convex (and thus defocusing)curvature.

These considerations further show the need to use an active mirrorrather than a conventional side-pumped or end-pumped laser geometry,which would lead to stronger thermal lensing.

As has been shown above, the dioptric power of the thermal lens must bekept somewhat below 2/d. This means that it will vary considerably, ifit is desired to operate with distances between T and R which may vary,for instance, between 1 m and 4 m. For large distances (large d), thebeam radius at the receiver R becomes larger. The minimum beam radius atR is set by the maximum possible mode radius at the transmitter T, whichis essentially given by the radius of the pumped spot of the activemirror, and by the corresponding beam divergence over the given range.If the beam radius at T is w₀ and the beam is diffraction-limited, it isfound that beam radius at R is given by:w _(R) =w ₀√{square root over (1+(d/z _(R))²)}at the receiver, with the Rayleigh length given by:z _(R) =πw ₀ ²/λFor example, with w₀=0.6 mm, d=4 m and λ=1064 nm, the receiver beamradius is given by w_(R)=2.3 mm. Large values of w_(R) may beproblematic because of the required size of the receiver and/or becauseof the power required to form the thermal lens. A larger value of w₀would help in this regime to reduce w_(R) (as it reduces the beamdivergence), but leads to a higher threshold pump power.

Assuming that the thermal lens mirror is constructed using a thinabsorbing layer, and heat flow is essentially in the direction normal tothe surface, the dioptric power of the lens is given by:

$\begin{matrix}{F_{th} = {\frac{\partial n}{\partial T}\frac{16d_{{ab}\; s}^{2}P_{dis}}{3\pi\;\kappa\; w_{R}^{4}}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$where d_(abs) is the thickness of the absorbing layer, ∂n/∂T is thetemperature coefficient of the refractive index, and κ is the thermalconductivity; it is assumed that the absorbing layer is in perfectthermal contact with a perfectly heat-conducting substrate, having auniform temperature. Although these approximations may not be exactlyfulfilled in a real device, the formula shows the scaling properties.The key aspect is the strong dependence on w_(R). If w_(R) is doubled,for example, the dissipated power has to be increased by a factor of 16to achieve a given dioptric power. However, a doubling of w_(R)corresponds approximately to doubling the distance d and thus to areduction of the required dioptric power by a factor of 2. Neverthelessapproximately 8 times the dissipated power is needed for twice thedistance d, if the beam is always diffraction-limited.

The latter detail shows a method of reducing the strong dependence onthe range: for smaller distances, w_(R) can be increased by reducing w₀below the radius of the pumped spot. This not only increases thedivergence of the fundamental beam, but also leads to the excitation ofhigher-order resonator modes, further increasing the effective beamradius at the thermal lens mirror. This condition can be achieved simplyby moving somewhat closer to the stability edge, i.e., by slightlyincreasing the dioptric power of the thermal lens. This is thus a simpleway of controlling w_(R). In order to operate the thermal lens mirrorwith a constant dissipated power, it can be adjusted so that w_(R)becomes slightly larger for larger distances d.

There is a built-in self-stabilizing effect. If the dioptric power risesfor any reason, this reduces w₀, increases w_(R), and thus stronglyreduces F_(th) according to eq. (1). The system should thus be able toself-stabilize a certain value of thermal lens dioptric power. Althoughsignificant fluctuations are expected, for instance, due to mode jumpsin the optical power and beam radius, as introduced by differentresonator modes starting or stopping oscillation, these should notprofoundly disturb the system operation.

Eq. (1) also shows how it is possible to obtain a thermal lens mirrorwhich has a sufficiently high dioptric power while absorbing only amoderate power: such lenders showed use a medium with high ∂n/∂T, lowthermal conductivity, and sufficient thickness, as previously explainedthe detailed description section of this application. Some furtherimprovement is possible by having a somewhat reduced thermalconductivity for the substrate, but still high enough to ensure anessentially one-dimensional heat flow.

The above description of the system utilizes a linear resonator.However, the use of corner cubes means that a non-planar ring resonatoris actually obtained. Important issues can arise from the fact that thetwo focusing elements—the active mirror in the transmitter and thethermal lens in the receiver—are impinged by the incoming beams at asubstantial angle of ≈54.7°. This has the following consequences:

(i) If the incoming beam has a circular cross section, the illuminatedarea on the mirror becomes elliptical. It is elongated in the plane ofincidence by a factor of ≈1.73

(ii) For a thermal lens this means that the gradients become weaker inthe direction of the plane of incidence, compared with the otherdirection. While this effect alone would decrease the focusing effect inthe plane of incidence, there is an opposite geometrical effect due tothe projection of the beam onto the mirror surface. These effects canexactly cancel each other for suitable construction of the mirrorcreating the thermal lens. The simplest configuration is one with a thinabsorbing layer, where the heat flows into the substrate essentiallyonly in the direction normal to the surface. In that case, the localtemperature increase is directly proportional to the local powerintensity, with no influence of the intensities at other points. In thissituation, the following argument can demonstrate that the thermal lenswill not introduce an asymmetry. Assuming a beam with circular crosssection incident on the mirror. The optical intensity of each point onthe mirror will depend only on the distance from the axis of theincident beam. The same holds for the optical phase shift experienced atany point, as the temperature increase is assumed to be proportional tothe local intensity. This means that despite the non-normal incidence, aphase shift for the reflected beam is obtained which only depends on theradial coordinate, and not on the azimuthal one. This is the same as fora circular lens with normal incidence; namely that there is noastigmatism.(iii) Overall, the thermal lens becomes weaker due to non-normalincidence, essentially because a larger area is heated.(iv) During the start-up procedure, as explained in the detaileddescription section above, the electrically generated thermal lens needsto have an elliptical shape.

A more realistic resonator would be a non-planar ring resonatorcontaining all six reflectors, rather than the simple linear resonatoras discussed above. This would not be expected to yield furtherinformation on resonator modes sizes, as the evolution of beam radiusalong the resonator depends only on the lengths of the arms(disregarding reflections at plane mirrors, which don't modify theevolution) and on the dioptric powers. It would allow, however, thestudy of the effects of rotating the receiver R, around the axis betweenthe transmitter T and receiver R, including the exact beam path,possible polarization changes, etc. A comprehensive model is complex,but as an initial model, it can be assumed that R and T are aligned towithin 2 to 5 degrees

Simpler qualitative arguments can give some assurance that a closed beamis possible even under complicated geometric conditions. A simplegeometrical configuration is assumed, where the pumped spot on theactive mirror and the thermal lens have exactly the same radial andazimuthal position. Each corner cube then reflects the beam simply withan inverted radial position. If the receiver is now somewhat rotated,there is still a closed beam path, but it becomes non-planar—not only atthe corner cubes, but also the two beams between T and R becomenon-parallel. This is possible because of the two focusing reflectors(active mirror and thermal lens)—such a configuration will not onlyrefocus the beam, but also deflect it, if it is not hit exactly in thecenter of its profile. The thermal lens, however, will, in the steadystate, be exactly centered and will thus perform such a reflection onlyin a transient regime. The spot hit on the lens should then move until aposition is found where the beam is no longer deflected by the thermallens. Concerning the geometric beam path, the receiver then works likean ordinary corner cube, even though it still does the essentialfocusing.

The total power efficiency of the device will depend on a number offactors:

-   1. The diode laser for pumping the active mirror will normally have    an efficiency of roughly 50% or slightly less when including losses    in the driver electronics.-   2. A few percent of the pump light may be lost, for instance, at the    crystal surface or due to incomplete absorption in the crystal.-   3. The quantum defect leads to a loss of 31%.-   4. A difficult factor to estimate is the quantum efficiency of the    laser, since this depends on factors such as parasitic losses,    diffraction losses (e.g. due to aberrations of the thermal lens),    imperfect matching of mode sizes, etc. Overall, it is not expected    that high efficiency is obtainable. As a rough estimate, 30% to 50%    can be obtained.-   5. The efficiency of a photovoltaic cell may be significantly higher    than a cell designed, for instance, for sun light, with its very    broad optical spectrum. As a rough estimate, 50% may be an    acceptable level.-   6. Overall, the power efficiency from the wall plug to the mobile    device should be of the order of a few percent. This appears to be    sufficient for many commercial applications, comparable to the    differences between a 500-W desktop computer and a 10-W laptop    computer. Use of a VCSEL as the active mirror, which can be more    than 50% efficiency, and which could be directly driven, should    substantially increase efficiency. Assuming 30% efficiency for the    laser and 50% for the photo voltaic cell, approximately 10% overall    efficiency can be obtained.-   7. Lasing could be obtained using a 20-W pump, and capable of    supplying 5 W output from the output coupler, which would translate    after conversion to 2.5 W of electrical power. This is power level    is five times the power needed to charge a cellphone and 25% of the    power needed to operate an efficient laptop, such that the devices    described should have significant usefulness.

It is appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited by what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present inventionincludes both combinations and subcombinations of various featuresdescribed hereinabove as well as variations and modifications theretowhich would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the abovedescription and which are not in the prior art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A free-space lasing system for transmitting alaser beam to at least one receiver, said system comprising: a powertransmitting unit comprising a gain medium, the power of said laser beambeing determined by the gain of said gain medium; at least one receiverremotely located relative to said power transmitting unit, said at leastone receiver comprising an element for extracting energy from said laserbeam for conversion to electrical power; at least one optical detectorconfigured to detect either the optical power level or beam shape ofsaid laser beam or the optical power level or beam shape of a light beamemitted by a separate light source, and emitting a signal accordingly;and a control unit configured to receive said signal from said at leastone optical detector, said control unit being configured to use saidsignal by responding to: (i) complete blocking of said laser beam orlight beam; (ii) partial blocking of said laser beam or said light beamby an opaque object; (iii) partial blocking of said laser beam or lightbeam by at least one partially transparent object disposed in said laserbeam or said light beam; and (iv) at least one transparent objectdisposed in said laser beam or said light beam, said transparent objectreflecting part of said laser beam or said light beam from its opticalpath, wherein said responding of said control unit comprises changingthe gain of said laser gain medium in accordance with any of situations(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) to which said control unit is responding.
 2. Asystem according to claim 1, wherein said separate light source islocated on said transmitter and said optical detector is located on saidreceiver.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said separate lightsource is located on said receiver and said optical detector is locatedon said transmitter.
 4. A system according to claim 1, wherein saidcontrol unit is further configured to use said signal to detect changesin said laser beam or said light beam atypical of natural decay of thelaser power or the separate light source or the detector sensitivity. 5.A system according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic focusingdevice for ensuring that said laser system is lasing in a stable mode.6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is furtherconfigured to use said signal to indicate safe operation of at least oneof said receiver and said transmitter unit.
 7. A system according toclaim 1, further comprising a wireless link for transmitting signalsbetween said transmitter and said at least one receiver.